Watch John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards Play "Yer Blues"

When you're John Lennon, you can be in any band you want.

And as The Beatles were winding down in the late-'60s, Lennon did just that in for what would later become The Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus film.

Above, Lennon can be seen jamming While Album classic "Yer Blues," featuring an all-star band of Eric Clapton on lead guitar, Keith Richards on bass and Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell on drums. 

Clapton fills space in the song with little licks and stabs, then takes a proper solo after the third or fourth turnaround. Hearing Slowhand and Lennon work together on guitar is fascinating.

But not to be outdone is Richards, showing off one of his hidden talents: playing bass. Hardcore Rolling Stones fans know that Richards started a lot of Stones hits on the bass, but there isn't a whole lot of footage of him playing on live. Here, Richards performs admirably, walking the bass up and down, in lockstep with Mitchell and building a ton of tension beneath Clapton's solos. 

Oh, the possibilities with these four!

And in case you were listening to the above version and asking, "Where's Yoko Ono?" You can listen to her screech, squeal and almost completely ruin "Yer Blues" in the video below, excerpted from 1969's Live Peace in Toronto film.

Why that was allowed to happen, we'll never fully understand.

Side note: other than John and Yoko, the band for Live Peace in Toronto also included Clapton, bassist Klaus Voormann and Yes drummer Alan White.


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